From http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2012/12/gail-simone-no-longer-the-writer-of-batgirl/

Gail Simone, the writer of Batgirl since the comic was rebooted as part of DC Comics’ New 52 relaunch, said on Twitter today that she will no longer be writing the title.

“On Wednesday of last week, new Batgirl editor Brian Cunningham informed me by email that I was no longer the writer of Batgirl,” Simone said. “It is baffling and sad, I will probably have a statement later today or maybe tomorrow. But I want to give huge, huge thanks to the other creators in the bat-offices, and editors Bobbie Chase and @yourpallsmitty, champions all. And the biggest thank you of all to you guys for supporting this book so hugely and making it a commercial and critical success. I honestly don’t have the words right now to thank you all. I’m pretty choked up and it’s all gratitude, not bitterness. I am very proud of what we accomplished with Batgirl and it was an honor to get to write Barbara Gordon again. Love that dame.”

Simone has a long history with the character. In addition to writing the New 52 relaunch title that saw Barbara Gordon back in the familiar tights, Simone also wrote the character for years in Birds of Prey before the relaunch, back when Gordon was the wheelchair-bound Oracle. No word yet on what issue will be Simone’s last; presumably it will be issue #17, which was solicited for February. March solicitations I believe are due to be released tomorrow.

This also leaves Simone without a project in the DCU; she was the co-writer of Fury of Firestormuntil issue #7, when Joe Harris replaced her on the title. She and her Secret Six collaborator Jim Calafiore are working together on a creator-owned project called Leaving Megalopolis, which had a successful Kickstarter campaign earlier this year.

Poop.

The rumor is true, my new editor fired me on Wednesday. It was a crappy day.

I tried to save it, it seemed to me to be an easily fixable situation.

Not sure what my plans are, my email box is thankfully cool of interesting offers. And several DC higher-ups and reached
out with kind notes of support.

Not sure what's going on.

But I love you Yabsers and thanks for sticking with me all these years even when I've been a jerk.

paw comments: sounds like a complete editorial decision (do not pass go, do not collect $200). I get the impression that other "dc higher ups" didn't know about this...which seems odd. Also, sales appear to be pretty darn good on the title (top 40 title)....so I doubt "sales" were the reason:

Just when you thought they could not do anything dumber. Honestly I have expected this for awhile now. DC seems to be trying to disconnect writers from titles. Hopefully Gail will have the last laugh by doing something for Image that sells like crazy.

Oh dayum... admittedly I'm way behind on reading, but I used to read Birds of Prey. Gail Simone is an awesome writer! She wrote the Secret Six - read the first 2 tpb's on 'name recognition' and love her work!!

Good luck to Gail Simone. Good writers will always find a project. Hard to come by.

So DC got rid of one of their writers that's actually competent? Maybe she should have done like Geoff Johns and made a comic book version of herself and make her Batgirl. Like Johns did with Simon Baz[ who Johns has admitted is essentially himself]

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